Ventilation material

ABSTRACT

A ventilation structure as a material for manufacturing sheet of cloth, mat, footwear, mattress cover, etc. is disclosed that includes a lower layer of knitted fabric formed of a water-impermeable and water vapor-permeable fabric; an upper layer of knitted fabric formed of a water-impermeable and water vapor-permeable fabric; a plurality of support members formed between the upper and the lower layers; and a plurality of reticulated air ducts formed between the upper and the lower layers with the support members disposed thereamong. In one embodiment, the support members are shaped as triangle. Preferably, the support members are formed of plastic. In another embodiment, the hardness of a first portion of the support members is higher than that of the remaining portions of the support members. In yet another embodiment, the support members have a projecting portion contacting either the upper layer or the lower layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to ventilation materials and more particularly toa three-layer sheet-like article having an improved ventilationstructure formed therein as a material for manufacturing sheet of cloth,mat, footwear, mattress cover, or the like.

2. Description of Related Art

Footwear, protective devices for athletes, mats, or mattress coverstypically have a ventilation material formed therein for bringing afeeling of comfort to a person wearing same or lying or sitting thereon.A sheet of article having a conventional ventilation material formedtherein is shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The sheet of article comprises alower layer of knitted fabric 30 formed of a water-impermeable and watervapor-permeable fabric, an upper layer of knitted fabric 32 formed of awater-impermeable and water vapor-permeable fabric, and an intermediatelayer of ventilation material 31 formed between the upper and lowerlayers 32 and 30. The layer of ventilation material 31 comprises aplurality of longitudinal apertures 311 arranged in parallel rows as airducts.

It is designed to cause the sheet of article to have a ventilationeffect. However, in fact, it is not true. In detail, the apertures 311are too small to conduct sufficient air flow through the layers 30, 31,and 32. Further, the heat absorbing area of the layer of ventilationmaterial 31 is relatively large. Thus, for example, a person wearing apair of shoes having the layer of ventilation material 31 formed thereinmay feel a degree of discomfort and coldness. Furthermore, the layer ofventilation material 31 is an integral pad having the same stiffness inevery portion. Thus, it is impossible of producing an article (e.g., aprotective device for athlete) requiring some enhanced portions asprotection by means of the well known ventilation material 31. Thus, theneed for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a ventilationstructure, comprising a lower layer of knitted fabric formed of awater-impermeable and water vapor-permeable fabric; an upper layer ofknitted fabric formed of a water-impermeable and water vapor-permeablefabric; a plurality of support members formed between the upper and thelower layers; and a plurality of reticulated air ducts formed betweenthe upper and the lower layers with the support members disposedthereamong.

In one aspect of the invention the support members are shaped astriangle.

In another aspect of the invention the support members are formed ofrubber, plastic, or bamboo charcoal.

In a further aspect of the invention the hardness of a first portion ofthe support members is higher than that of the remaining portions of thesupport members.

In a yet further aspect of the invention the support members have aprojecting portion contacting either the upper layer or the lower layer.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description taken withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet of article incorporating apreferred embodiment of ventilation material according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially broken away view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an enlarged portion of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sheet of article having a conventionalventilation material formed therein;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an enlarged portion of FIG.4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a sheet of article incorporating apreferred embodiment of ventilation material according to the inventionis shown. The sheet of article comprises a lower layer of knitted fabric10 formed of a water-impermeable and water vapor-permeable fabric, anupper layer of knitted fabric 12 formed of a water-impermeable and watervapor-permeable fabric, and a plurality of triangular support members 11formed between the upper and lower layers 12 and 10 and arranged inparallel rows. Preferably, the support members 11 are formed of rubber,plastic or the like having a desired stiffness. Alternatively, thesupport members 11 are formed of bamboo charcoal for specificallyabsorbing smell and moisture. Further, shape of the support member 11other than triangle is contemplated by the invention. In addition,stiffness of some support members 11 may be different from that of theremaining support members 11 depending on applications. For example,stiffness enhancement of some portions of a protective device forathlete made of the sheet of article is desired. As shown in FIG. 2, oneside of one support member 11 of one row is parallel with one side ofone support member 11 of an adjacent row. Note that the orientation ofthe support members 11 other than above is also contemplated by theinvention.

Referring to FIG. 3 specifically, a plurality of air ducts 111 areformed between the layers 10 and 12. Also, the air ducts 111 arereticulated with the support members 11 disposed among them.Advantageously, a total space occupied by the air ducts 111 issufficiently large. Thus, the desired ventilation effect can be achievedby conducting air flow through the lower layer 10, the air ducts 111,and the upper layer 12. Hence, for example, a person wearing a pair ofshoes having the intermediate support members 11 formed therein may feela degree of comfort. Additionally, padding material such as foam can beplaced in some air ducts 111 for increasing the shock absorbingcapability of the sheet of article without adversely affecting theventilation effect.

In one application, a mat incorporating the support members 11 with thusformed air ducts 111 can be placed on a sheet of cloth. Thereafter,person(s) may sit on the mat. Advantageously, the mat can bring a degreeof comfort to the person(s) sitting thereon.

Alternatively, the support members 11 have a projecting portioncontacting either the upper layer 12 or the lower layer 10 such that amassaging effect to the corresponding body portion is carried out when aperson sits on, for example, a mat having the support members 11 formedtherein.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could bemade thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

1. A ventilation structure, comprising: a lower layer of knitted fabricformed of a water-impermeable and water vapor-permeable fabric; an upperlayer of knitted fabric formed of a water-impermeable and watervapor-permeable fabric; a plurality of support members formed betweenthe upper and the lower layers; and a plurality of reticulated air ductsformed between the upper and the lower layers with the support membersdisposed thereamong.
 2. The ventilation structure of claim 1, whereinthe support members are shaped as triangle.
 3. (canceled)
 4. Theventilation structure of claim 1, wherein the support members are formedof plastic.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The ventilation structure of claim 1,wherein the hardness of a first portion of the support members is higherthan that of the remaining portions of the support members.
 7. Theventilation structure of claim 1, wherein the support members have aprojecting portion contacting either the upper layer or the lower layer.